Lyonnais by birth, trained at OL, Florent Balmont has never played, among the 513 matches he has under his belt, a derby against Saint-Etienne among the professionals. A “lack” that he compensates for with memories of other French derbies against Monaco (with Nice) or Lens (with Lille). But the real derby nevertheless remains the rivalry with the Greens. Today a double-hatted coach in Mâcon (assistant to his training friend, Roland Viera in National 3 and main in the reserve team in Regional 1), he still has an enamored eye on this opposition between the two Rhône towns and the Loire.
Florent, after 1024 days without a derby, do you feel a “lack” in the region?
Obviously, as a Lyonnais, yes, we missed it for the two matches apart from what it gives but also for the whole “room” side between the two cities. These oppositions are always “apart” matches. It is above all a match for the supporters first. We can regret that sometimes it has overflowed or that it is at the limit, but when we are in a small group, I love the roominess. What I like today is the tradition of supporters “visiting” training sessions. I find it nice: they come the day before the match, to put a little pressure, to make people understand that it is a special match, a match apart. It dives into the atmosphere. This says a lot about the importance and it reveals it in the eyes of players who perhaps do not have this notion in mind.
Personally, do you have a gap in your career?
(he cuts) Yes, I haven't known any professionally. I am rather “fed” to youth meetings through matches between teams at the training center. My derbies are Nice-Monaco, Lille-Lens.
Did you experience it in a certain way from a distance?
Yes, but THE derby still remains Lyon-Saint-Étienne and Saint-Étienne-Lyon. Through my family, my loved ones and the feeling at the Academy, I know and I measure the enthusiasm, the anticipation with the two D-days, checked on the agenda as soon as the calendar comes out. I know the enthusiasm behind it with the supporters, and so automatically, it pushes us to be there.
Compared to other derbies, is this Lyon-Saint-Étienne special?
I repeat: yes! The derby remains Lyon Saint-Etienne. Obviously, Lens-Lille was nice because it was also the small town against the big city, but I think that Lyon-Saint-Etienne is still different.
Did you want the Greens to quickly return to Ligue 1 since May 2022?
Obviously, it's certain that even as Lyonnais, it bothered us that Saint-Étienne went down, because we didn't have these two matches. As a spectator, a Lyonnais supporter, I couldn't wait to see these matches. A championship without Saint-Etienne is not a real season! OL-ASSE is history and as a pure Lyonnais, you have to respect it, that's why it's also good to see them again in Ligue 1.
What is a derby day, do you experience it differently?
Everything feels like excitement: it's not the same as any other match. The week is a little different too, in the atmosphere, the people you meet talk to you about it. The excitement is not the same and neither is the day of the match! I can't really describe it, but it's different. A little out of time. Perhaps because we know that it is a match which can mark the history of rivalries for a long time. There remains one fact: we can say what we want, but in derbies, as they say: “it's not played, it's won.”
You who were renowned for your “I don't give up” side in an “ordinary” match, how did you experience these derbies?
A bit “catchy” you mean (laughing)…
A bit “pitbull” indeed…
Indeed (laughing). It's true that I was a little excited in the matches, but this one, I took it a step further, while trying to remain as lucid as possible. But, I confirm: I really pushed myself and I loved these derbies because we have extra pressure! I had this crazy desire to be able to win because they were separate contexts: we really had to show that in this case, Lyon is above Saint-Étienne. In Lille, we had to win this derby, to show that Lille was above Lens. And for me in derbies, in Nice or Lille, I haven't lost any! And yet at the time, Monaco was tough!
We feel that this invincibility in derbies is close to your heart on your CV, which includes 513 Ligue 1 matches…
Yes, for me, the dates were always checked before the season. It's important, I think it's always good, for you but also for the supporters too: I wanted to return the favor, in terms of their enthusiasm. I could then, in a way, look them eye to eye and say: “We won both matches for you too!” I can name one between Nice and Monaco. We lost 3-0 in the 60th minute in Monaco; and in the end, we won 4-3. I think it's one of the best “remontadas” that I've done as a player and with a enthusiasm where there were 10,000 Niçois at Louis-II. And I can tell you that the Nice supporters reminded us of this for a long time. Afterwards, these are matches which remain in history, which are significant. Things always happen in derbies. The scenarios are always “bizarre”. There's always something small happening, an expulsion, a disputed goal, an action, a celebration, a narrow score, a goal in added time… Personally, Sidney Govou's goal at Geoffroy-Guichard remains the most striking. There are lots of things that happen in a derby. And we remember it and for the 125th, I want it to end well…
That's to say ?
It has to end well. As a Lyonnais, I hope things go well with a victory, obviously!
Comments collected by Edward Jay
